20 Dec Sneaking In Exercise

All the preparations and festivities of the holiday season can wreak havoc on one’s exercise routine. Add to this a shrinking amount of daylight and colder temperatures in many parts of the country, and the temptation can be strong to skip the gym until after the calendar turns. However, we all know that physical activity is essential to well-being, especially in busy, stressful times. Here, fitness expert Christine King of Your Best Fit offers suggestions on how to squeeze movement into your day. Remember, every little bit adds up!

1. Before you even get out of bed, lie on your back with your knees bent. Raise your hips up from the bed and squeeze your buttocks. Do this as many times as you can. Then, throw in a set of stomach crunches. It will take you 90 seconds total, and you’ve worked your core before brushing your teeth!

2. Several times per day, stand up and down from your chair 10-30 times. Do what your body can handle, and build up the repetitions. This is the action of a squat. If you do this three times during the day, you’ve fit in around 30-60 squats, which is probably more than you do in your regular workout.

3. Use a headphone with an extension so that you can walk around the office while on a call.

4. If your chair is sturdy and has arms, use your own arms to lift your body out of the chair as many times as you can. It’s like a “dip,” and it should be done several times per day.

5. If you get a 10 or 15 minute break, walk up and down the stairs as many times as you can.

If you missed it yesterday, check out this article on resisting holiday food temptations.Image courtesy of Thinkstock Photos.